Everyday Business

Hastings remodels, adds thousands of new items

Jessica Thune, customer service manager for Hastings Books Music & Video in Wenatchee

Hastings Books Music & Video didn’t kid around last month when they vastly expanded their store’s inventory.

“We’re carrying more lifestyle, hobby and sports items,” said Jessica Thune, customer service manager for Wenatchee’s Hastings. “It’s part of the company strategy to be an ‘everything store,’ to give us an edge against the competition.”

Walls were torn down and aisles rearranged (yes, they’re slightly narrower) to give the store a fuller, brighter look, said Thune. But nothing was lost in the transition.

“We have the same amount of books, CDs and DVDs as before,” she said. “Loyal customers won’t feel shortchanged — we didn’t cut back on what people know us for.”

Hastings’ buy-back services have expanded, too. For years, the store has bought used books, CDs and DVDs from customers. Now they’ll also buy back vinyl records (owning vinyl is a growing national trend), comic books and vintage video games.

These latest changes are the store’s biggest expansion since it opened in 1994, said Martha Linn, book department manager. “We’re all about entertainment, and these new items — thousands of them — help keep us relevant” in the changing marketplace, she said.